KALO PASS. 



409 



Siah-Sung halting place, and the Helmund consisting of limpid 

 water emitting a copious ebullition of gas, not water, as the overflow 

 is very small ; a copious deposition of fine red earth is formed all 

 round, which looks especially bright in the springs themselves. 

 The water possesses a peculiar acid taste. 



Quails abundant, especially about this place, the water of the 

 Helmund is very clear and affords excellent fishing with worms which 

 are greedily taken, and also with the fly, particularly towards even- 

 ing, by a species of Gonorhynchus. 



1 \th. — Returned to the foot of the ascent of the Oonnoo, nine miles : 

 nothing new having been met with, except that Kohi-Baba is seen to 

 great advantage from the higher ridges of this pass. On going to 

 Bamean we saw it for the first time from the ridges beyond Yonutt, 

 badly from the first, but beautifully from the second ridge. The 

 weather continues as usual threatening in the evening, clearing up 

 after sunset : there is less snow on Kohi-Baba now than when we went. 



12th. — Proceeded to Sir-i-Chushme, eight miles, which was one 

 continued descent. Passed Killa Moostaffur Khan, built by a Kuzzil- 

 bash ; it is the prettiest fort in the country. The common Carduacea 

 disappears below 9,500 feet, Cnicus of Koti-Ashruf commences here. 



Temperature of the spring at Sir-i-Chushme, 55° (1J p. m.) ; that 

 at Kallo, on the other side of Hajeeguk, 45°. 



All crops are cut, and the ground ploughed or preparing ; in one 

 place the young wheat is springing up ; but the country generally 

 looks very brown, and the hills small. Abundance of black teal. 

 Plectranthus reappears at the foot of Oonnoo, Verbascum rare, if any, 

 on the Tartary side of the Hindoo-koosh. Abundance of Loaches or 

 Balitora in the streamlets arising from the springs. 



13th. — Proceeded to Julraiz, eight and a half miles, having passed 

 a waterfall, as well as abundance of people going to Jallalabad. Bar. 

 22760 at noon; Ther. 75°. 



14^. — Proceeded to Koti-Ashruf, where there is excellent fishing 

 with worms, the fish however did not take a fly, though they often 

 appeared at the surface : a large headed Silurus occurs, but I was 

 unable to procure a specimen. 



\5th. — Proceeded to Arghundee, where we met the Bamean force. 



16th. — Proceeded to Topehee Bashee. 



11th. — Returned to Cabul. Eryngium is rare between the foot of 

 Oonnoo and Moostaffur Khan's fort. 



